Even though the American economy is showing some initial signs of improvement, unemployment is still high and many families are struggling. When your household cash flow slows and dwindles, it can feel overwhelming simply to keep up with necessary bills and payments. However, it's essential for your family's financial health - now and in the future - that you keep making all your payments. The best way to keep your finances in good shape and identify any shortcomings in advance is to develop a new, clearly laid out family budget.

The Obama administration has set forth an extensive bill designed to get the economy out of the recession and moving again. This $70 billion bill has a large portion directed toward students and investing in their education.

The current gloomy economic conditions contain some good news for the small-business sector. Some small-business owners and managers are finding a silver lining in the current recession, seeing more high-quality candidates available for hire, rising employee retention rates and gains in market share. As a small-business owner, you take advantage of these opportunities and make them work for your business.

Identity theft affected 10 million Americans last year, an increase of 22 percent from the previous year, according to Javelin Strategy and Research. Those numbers make identity theft one of the nation's fastest growing crimes.

If you are still searching for that silver lining in the present economic doldrums, going back to school this year might be the remedy for you. Whether you are a first-time freshman or a returning student looking for a new degree to move your career forward, for many the timing could not be better.

The first few months of the year when many Americans are spending time at home trying to recuperate from the hustle and bustle of the holidays may not seem like an ideal time for a vacation. However, this time known as "shoulder season" is a fantastic time for savvy travelers to find great deals on airfare, hotels and attractions while simultaneously experiencing top destinations in a whole new way.

The Making Work Pay credit has many taxpayers confused, and for some, the confusion has led to the shock of smaller or delayed refunds. To help make sense and cents out of it all, TaxACT has provided the most essential information and tips for getting it right on your 2009 tax return.

This is the time of year when people start preparing their annual income tax returns. It's also time to remind people who run charities and other tax-exempts that those organizations must file annual returns with the Internal Revenue Service, as well.

With today's record low real estate prices and attractive mortgage rates, now may be a good time to think about investing in a second home that ultimately can be used as your permanent residence upon retirement. By taking a "buy-and-rent" approach before you're ready to retire, your new home will actually have partly paid for itself by the time you're ready to move into it.

Savers will have to be a little more creative to earn a respectable return. In light of this, it is helpful to explore some strategies to help make your cash work harder.